 "Watch: Axar grabs one-handed blinder to dismiss Marsh during India-Australia Super 8 clash")
Axar Patel has proven useful with bat as well as with ball for India in the T20 World Cup in the US and the Caribbean, chipping in with a crucial 20 against Pakistan and also getting important breakthroughs from time to time.
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On Monday, the Gujarat and Delhi Capitals left-arm spinner gave a good reminder of just how game-changing he can be with his fielding skills by plucking a one-handed blinder to dismiss Mitchell Marsh during India’s Super 8 clash against Australia in Gros Islet, St Lucia.
It would prove to be a turning point as the game would slowly start slipping out of Australia’s grasp thereafter, with India eventually walking away with a 24-run victory to storm into the semi-finals.
The Aussies were off to a shaky start in their chase of 206 in a must-win clash against the Men in Blue, with Arshdeep Singh dismissing David Warner in the first over to become the Indian bowler with most wickets in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.
Skipper Marsh and Warner’s opening partner Travis Head, however, brought the Aussies back on their feet in no time with an attacking second-wicket partnership, taking them to 65/1 at the end of the powerplay — five more than what the Indians had managed around the same stage.
Recap | How India defeated Australia in T20 World Cup Super 8 clash in St Lucia
Arshdeep had dropped Marsh on 5 off his own bowling and the latter responded by smashing the left-arm pacer for a four and a six in successive deliveries. Head would then collect three boundaries in four balls off Bumrah’s bowling in the following over.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIndia were growing desperate for a breakthrough in the ninth over with the Head-Marsh partnership in excess of 80 when Axar and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav joined forces to end the partnership. Marsh crouched low to pull the ball behind square, and had absolutely muscled it for a flat hit that would’ve comfortably cleared the fence, had it not been for Axar stationed in front of the boundary rope.
Axar timed his jump perfectly and managed to grab the ball with his non-dominant right-handed to complete what surely would be a solid contender for ‘Catch of the Tournament’.
Watch the dismissal below:
Earlier, skipper Rohit Sharma blasted his way to 92 off 41 balls, bringing up his half-century in just 19 deliveries — the fastest in the ongoing tournament — as the Men in Blue posted a massive 205/5 on the board after Australia skipper Marsh opted to field.
Read | How India batters blew away Australia bowlers in St Lucia
Rohit’s vicious assault helped India recover from a slow start, with Josh Hazlewood removing Virat Kohli for a five-ball duck, and race past the 100-mark inside nine overs.
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